The correlation analysis of insulin resistance and tumor necrosis factor-α in congestive heart failure

Objective: To explore the relationship between insulin resistance (IR) and plasma tumor necrosis factor α(TNF α) in congestive heart failure (CHF).Method: The levels of fasting plasma insulin and TNF α were determined by means of radioimmunoassay in 41 patients with CHF and 26 normal healthy controls. Insulin sensivtivity index (IAI) was assessed by reverting fasting plasma glucose and insulin product. All parameters in CHF and in normal healthy control were compared. And the correlation between the grade of CHF and the levels of IAI and TNF α were analyzed.Result: Compared to normal healthy control, patients with CHF had significantly higher levels of TNF α 〔( 0.345 ± 0.09 )∶( 0.199 ± 0.05 ),P 0.001 〕, fasting insulin 〔( 19.18 ± 6.78 )∶( 6.78 ± 2.35 ),P 0.001 〕 and had lower IAI 〔(- 1.90 ± 0.188 )∶(- 1.48 ± 0.149 ),P 0.001 〕. The severe the heart failure, the higher the TNF α and the lower IAI level. IAI was correlated with TNF α(r=- 0.744 6 ) but not related to heart failure in etiology.Conclusion: IR and TNF α relate each other and both play important roles in the pathogenesis of CHF.